PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between George Kalai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Tye (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Kalai
vs
Tye

181 cm
25
155 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

188 cm
25
147 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, George Kalai!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, James Tye!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Daniel Cesar and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tye shoots in but Kalai avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Kalai swings for the body but Tye moves out of range.
Kalai keeps the fight on the outside.

Kalai closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Kalai lands in his opponent's guard.
Tye doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Tye is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Tye trying to keep a closed guard but Kalai is proving a slippery customer.
Kalai is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kalai works over Tye with some ground and pound from guard.
Kalai postures up.
Kalai slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tye looking for subs off his back but Kalai has passed one foot through into half guard.
Tye pushes Kalai off looking to stand but Kalai dives back in and keeps control.
Kalai looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Tye wants to control but Kalai is keeping busy.
Kalai slows the pace down in half guard.
Tye taking some punishment here, with Kalai in his half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Kalai is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Tye has managed to free his arm - good work.
Kalai not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Tye is looking to improve his position.
Tye trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Kalai manages to pass to mount!
Kalai landing strikes from the mount.
Kalai looking to control and managing it successfully.
Tye tries to lock up and control but Kalai gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Tye throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tye is squirming around, avoiding Kalai's attempts to control the action.
Kalai blocks Tye's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Kalai is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Tye can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Tye is flailing around like a fish out of water, trying to land strikes.

Kalai looking to secure an arm triangle but Tye defends it well.
Kalai tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Tye is flailing around like a fish out of water, trying to land strikes.
Kalai takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Tye working to try and regain half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tye tries to hold on but Kalai postures up.
Tye is looking to get to half guard.

Kalai is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Tye to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Tye shrugs it off.
Tye is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Tye is wriggling around trying to escape.
Tye tries to hold on but Kalai pushes him away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tye is desperately trying to improve his position but Kalai has a good base and remains in mount.
Tye is bucking up trying to escape but Kalai cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Kalai tries to get up but Tye was controlling his body and he's reversed into guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

George Kalai dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Kalai throws a head kick but Tye moves out of range.

Tye moves into the clinch successfully.
Kalai prevents a takedown attempt there.

Tye breaks from the clinch.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Kalai.
Tye is trying to improve his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tye manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kalai is controlling the pace.
Tye tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tye is looking to improve his position.
Kalai content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Ground and pound from Kalai.
Kalai looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Tye trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
Tye squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Tye is desperately trying to improve his position but Kalai has a good base and remains in mount.

Kalai has control of Tye's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Tye regains control of the situation pretty easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kalai lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Kalai trying to control but Tye is having none of it.
Kalai is trying to stand up but he's being controlled by his opponent.
Tye is looking to get to half guard.
Kalai can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Tye is looking to escape.
Kalai wants to stand but Tye is holding on to him, trying to stop him posturing up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kalai trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Tye is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

Kalai has control of Tye's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Tye regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Kalai can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Tye is looking to escape.
Tye tries to control Kalai's body but Kalai pushes him off. Tye squirms to his side and now Kalai has his back!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tye wants to get back to his feet.
Tye just trying to survive but Kalai is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Kalai keeps control of the position easily here as Tye tries to buck him off.

Kalai has the rear naked choke here! This is very bad for Tye! Can he survive? No! He's out! Kalai gets to his feet and celebrates with his cornermen. He looks absolutely delighted. In the post fight interviews he takes time to thank his parents and everyone who has believed in him from the start. How sweet.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:44 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). George Kalai!